Week 8 Flashcards
What was the purpose of the Stanford Prison Experiment?
To see how the environment affects people’s behaviour when good people are put in a bad place.
How long was the Stanford Prison Experiment supposed to last?
It was supposed to last 2 weeks but ended early after 6 days.
Who led the Stanford Prison Experiment?
Psychology teacher, Philip Zimbardo.
How many participants were in the Stanford Prison Experiment?
24 male volunteers.
What was the daily payment for participants in the Stanford Prison Experiment?
$15 a day (about $120 today).
How were the participants selected for the Stanford Prison Experiment?
They were male volunteers who were randomly chosen.
What was the prison-like area created in the experiment called?
“The Yard.”
Who played the role of the prison boss in the experiment?
Zimbardo himself.
How were the prisoners treated when they arrived at the study site?
They were arrested by real police, stripped, searched, sprayed with a chemical, and given uniforms with ID numbers.
What did the guards in the Stanford Prison Experiment have to do?
They had to call the prisoners by their numbers and act as though they were in charge.
What happened on Day 2 of the experiment?
Prisoners rebelled, refusing to get in line and taking off their uniforms. The guards responded aggressively.
How did the guards try to control the prisoners on Day 3?
They rewarded obedient prisoners with a special “privilege cell” and punished others by taking away their beds and food.
What happened to prisoner #8612 on Day 3?
He broke down from the stress.
How did the guards create distrust among prisoners on Day 4?
They rotated prisoners in and out of the privilege cell, causing suspicion and feelings of betrayal.
What happened on Day 5 of the experiment?
The guards became hostile toward a prisoner on a hunger strike, and a visiting professor raised concerns about the study.
Why did the Stanford Prison Experiment end early on Day 6?
A professor noticed the harm being done, and parents threatened legal action, leading Zimbardo to end the experiment.
What were the ethical issues with the Stanford Prison Experiment?
Participants weren’t fully informed, couldn’t leave when they wanted, and were treated poorly, leading to new rules for future studies.
Were there real control or dependent variables in the study?
No, there were no real control or dependent variables in the study.
What is brainwashing?
The involuntary application of extreme social influence tactics to modify behavior, beliefs, and attitudes.
How were POWs rewarded for cooperation?
With improved living conditions, freedom, and sometimes authority over fellow captives.
What event popularized the concept of brainwashing?
The Korean War, where American POWs returned with drastically different attitudes.
What is a common tactic used in brainwashing POWs?
Forced to question previously unquestioned beliefs to undermine certainty.
What psychological tactic was used to make POWs feel isolated?
Withholding mail and cutting off communication with the outside world.
What were some degrading conditions POWs experienced?
Forced adherence to trivial rules, denial of basic needs, and public humiliation.
What did POWs sometimes have to do as part of their indoctrination?
Write statements criticizing their own country or supporting the captors.
What technique was used to weaken group resistance in POWs?
Removal of leaders to disrupt group cohesion.
How were prisoners progressively manipulated?
Through gradual escalation of requests, starting with small ones and moving to larger demands.
What emotional tactics were used on POWs?
Induced anxiety, fear, guilt, and insecurity through torture and random punishments.
What is a common tactic used by cults to control members?
Create a social reality by isolating members from outsiders.
How do cults build in-group identity?
By showering new members with approval (love-bombing) and using initiation rites.
What is the gradual escalation of commitment in cults?
Start with small requests and increase them over time, including demands for loyalty and severing social ties.
How do cult leaders establish their authority?
By creating elaborate myths about their origins and abilities, often portraying themselves as divine.
What is a method cults use to distract members from undesirable thoughts?
Using repetitive activities such as chanting or physical labor, along with deprivation (sleep, food, water).
What final goal is often emphasized in cults?
An ultimate desirable goal that may never be attainable, such as immortality or supernatural abilities.
